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Founder of Rococo chocolates, Chantal Coady OBE has collaborated with Jigsaw to create these wonderful super soft and warm cotton pyjamas. At £60 they are a rather special gift but I purchased mine a month ago and keep washing and wearing them repeatedly as they are so comfortable. My only advice is to order a size larger than you are, as my 12-14 figure needed the size 16. I am obsessed with pyjamas and these are my favourite purchase all year. Here's the link: http://www.jigsaw-online.com/product/rococo-printed-pyjama/J35121_BL000

Ok, so this may qualify as a side present or just something wonderful to send someone whether Christmas or a simple ‘thank you’ or ‘get well soon’ gift, nothing beats a giant cookie. Having had these before, I have to say not only are the delicious but also rather beautifully packaged, too. You can choose between the ‘cookie pizza’ for £30, a mixed selection from £16.99 or just multiples of one variety from £16.99… a fantastic, and I must add, DELICIOUS and high-quality gift for kids and big kids, alike. Here’s the link: https://www.blondieskitchen.co.uk/collections/cookies

I’m rather proud to share that my favourite cured meats are now British-made! Cobble Lane Cured was first introduced to me by the lovely Chefs Anna Hansen & Rob McLeary of The Modern Pantry. I was stunned to discover that the salami, coppa and other fine produce was British and surprisingly, made down the road in Islington, of all places. Cobble Lane Cured Coppa is a house staple for me now and I am especially fond of their fennel and garlic Salami, too. The really brilliant idea for the festive season comes in the form of their brilliant ‘Seasoned Greetings’ Christmas Cards with a packet of Coppa or Bresaola inside for just £6.50 and for those looking for a gift to go alongside that, then the Salami selection or 2 Salamis and 1 Saucisson for £27, is rather wonderful, as is the Charcuterie Selection for £25 presented in a rather nice tin, perfect for gifting. Here’s the link: https://www.cobblelanecured.com/collections/all

Every year, the good people at Belazu create a special hamper for the festive season, full of wonderful goodies perfect for adding much sparkle to your cooking for every season, not just Christmas. Priced at £52, they will even take care of delivery for you, free of charge. I have long been a fan of Belazu products and most of the recipes in my first book Persiana came about because of the rose Harissa and Preserved lemons, which I really couldn’t live without. This award-winning hamper is the perfect and generous gift for any food lover and, I might add, it goes beautifully alongside my books! Here’s the link: https://www.belazu.com/product/belazu-hamper/

Anyone who knows me, knows I absolutely adore Champagne. I mean, who doesn’t? Nothing makes you feel as deliciously devilish and terribly special as good old-fashioned Champagne! If money was no object, I’d always go for Dom Perignon (current vintage is 2009) and for a rather special treat, it is quite reasonably priced on Ocado at £120. But for everyday value,

The Wolseley, one of my all-time favourite addresses in London and definitely a bucket-list destination for Londoners and out-of-towners alike, have recently launched an online shop! Perfect news for lovers of luxury hampers, Wolseley blend teas, chocolates, wines, champagnes and tipples as well as glassware, silverware, gift vouchers for the best afternoon tea in London and the famous Wolseley Breakfast. They even have a Wolseley candle, which is terribly glamorous, beautifully boxed in the signature Art-Deco branding that personifies the Corbin and King Group. A very special collection of gifts for every budget, the thought of which still make me squeal with delight. Here’s the link: https://www.thewolseley.com/theshop/

I absolutely love Tiptree, always have, always will… and its British and of course, celebrated across the world. Apart from jam, they make fantastic sauces, chutneys, sweet treats, candles and gin. YES, GIN! The delicious Tiptree Gin Liqueurs come in several different flavours and they have put together a rather bountiful box selection of liqueurs, £60, just for the festive period, along with a stunning savoury hamper, £35, and a breakfast hamper for £25. Nothing could be more traditionally British on your table (or in your glass) than Tiptree and there literally is something for everyone from their website. Here’s the link: https://www.tiptree.com/index.php/gifts.html

I absolutely adore these beautiful Irish Linen aprons made by Enrich and Endure. I wore the Turquoise one in Feasts and have now purchased two more in Lava (a lovely warm orange colour) and Turmeric, which seems to be made for me and my cooking because if it’s already turmeric-coloured, then I can’t stain it with more turmeric, can I? Great value for such high quality, it must be said, £55 and the ideal gift for the consummate cook and foodie. Here’s the link: https://www.enrichandendure.com/shop/

*Please note that none of the items featured on this page are sponsored.

I am a greedy girl and I love eating out a lot, especially as I seem to be constantly cooking both at work and at home, so eating out is integral for me not only for the much needed break from the kitchen but also to continue to inspire me to come up with new ideas, flavours and recipes.

Stuck for ideas and gift inspiration this Christmas? If you are looking for some fabulous suggestions, especially for food lovers with something to suit budgets big and small, then here is my gift guide full of beautiful, interesting and thoroughly useful suggestions perfect for the festive season.

With only three week's to go, I've been busy preparing for the launch of Sirocco. This week, Waterstones asked me to share my store cupboard staples for some of the recipes featured and the spices I just can't live without. You really don't need hundreds of herbs cramming up your kitchen cupboards and with just a few of these ingredients, it's really easy to achieve big, beautiful flavours.

It's hard to believe that after waiting so long, its that time again... there is but a month left until the release of my second book 'Sirocco: Fabulous flavours from the East' and I'm delighted to be able to share some sneak peeks with you, at long last.

I am so proud to announce that after our first Supperclub collaboration ‘Passage to Persia’ back in 2012, the wonderful Chef Anna Hansen MBE and I shall be reuniting once again along with Head Chef Rob McLeary, to host a Supperclub collaboration feast at The Modern Pantry (http://www.themodernpantry.co.uk) on Monday 16th February, raising funds for the wonderful charity Action Against Hunger (http://www.actionagainsthunger.org).

I do love sitting down with the family to a traditional Christmas feast. Whether you celebrate with dinner on Christmas Eve or lunch on Christmas Day, it’s the one time of year you get to spend time with your loved ones and share a wonderful, home-cooked meal together.

All year round, I get asked for recommendations from both friends and strangers as to what equipment I use in my kitchen, food and drink that I like and what could I recommend to make the perfect gift for a food loving friend or loved one. Birthdays, Christmas, Hannukah, any excuse to give a gif really… It’s useful all year round especially when you are struggling for inspiration.

With the festive season rapidly approaching, I thought it was high time to put a list together to share with you in manner of Sound of Music’s “These are a few of my favourite things!” – I would like to add, these are GENUINELY things and brands I like, use and respect and I have not received payment or goods in kind to endorse these. Just good old fashioned useful tips and pointers to (hopefully) give you some inspiration in a season that drives us mad with the “Oh-God-what-do-I-get-so-and-so-for-Christmas?” panic! I am pretty sure you will end up buying a few things on the list for yourself… and why not? Treat yourself; it IS Christmas, after all!

The new site will feature a brand new travel page, recipes from my book Persiana as well as other quick and easy recipes and tips on how to make vibrant dishes, bursting with flavour with minimal effort and maximum result.

I will also be sharing useful tips that have helped me in my own home, as well as well as useful ingredient guides on products and ingredients I find handy in my own cookery and some of the best ways to get the most out of them.

There is still quite a bit of tweaking to do before I can get all my recipes uploaded as well as more information about my supperclubs, future events, private catering and teaching.

I do hope you will bear with me for a little while longer, until the site is fully complete.